Protect Your Children From PCBs and PBDEs

Please note that this section contains my personal notes from my readings on this topic.
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From The Toxic Sandbox (2007) by Libby McDonald; pages 115 – 11:

PCB levels in blood have been steadily decreasing since the federal government banned these industrial chemicals in 1977. On the other hand, PBDEs are skyrocketing. Here are some steps we can all take to protect our children from exposure to PCBs and PBDEs:

Farmed salmon contain high levels of PCBs and PBDEs; all salmon labeled “Atlantic” are farmed. If you feel you must feed salmon to your children, select wild-caught salmon instead, or opt for fish that are lower on the food chain — for instance shrimp, tilapia, and flounder. Do keep in mind that some researchers suggest that pregnant women and breastfeeding women should avoid fish altogether. PCBs and PBDEs accumulate in a fish’s body the same way that mercury does.

PCBs and PBDEs build up in the fatty tissue of meat and dairy products. Therefore it makes a lot of sense to reduce the amount of fat in the food you serve your children. For instance, choose skim milk, low-fat yogurt, skinless chicken breast, and turkey. Because they do not consume animal fat in their feed, grass-fed animals and fowl contain fewer PCBs and PBDEs. To buy grass-fed products go online to: http://eatwild.com. There you will find a wealth of information about the farmers as well as information on how and where to buy their products.

High levels of PBDEs have been found in household dust. One way to limit PBDE exposure to small children who spend a lot of time on the floor is to vacuum floors and upholstered furniture regularly with a vaccum that has a high-efficiency, or HEPA, filter.

Wipe dusty surfaces with a wet cloth and mop floors regularly.

Purchase furniture, children’s pajamas, electronics, cars, and carpets from companies that have chosen not to use PBDEs in their products. The Green Guide at www.thegreenguide.com lists some companies that make products free of PBDEs: